3/3
Allianz Arena

Plans: supporters will lose out if the running track stays, according to Spurs

Tottenham Hotspur's plans for the Olympic Stadium will mean:

An amazing new 60,000-stadium for Spurs that will deliver the best fan experience anywhere in Europe and allow the team to continue to thrive and compete at the highest level.

A commercially sustainable, successful and iconic stadium and vibrant surrounding area used 365 days a year - delivered with our partner AEG [owner of the successful 02 Arena] - helping the overall legacy of the Olympic Park.

A clear and sustainable legacy for athletics through a revamped 25,000-seat Crystal Palace for use by athletes every day of the year, as well as long-term grass roots athletics funding.

Multi-use venue for concerts, multi-sports, festivals and extensive community programmes by Foundation; exceptional public realm; major tourist attraction based around extreme sports.

All without the need for Government or Council tax payer monies in the future.

The result would be an iconic landmark and destination of which London can be proud, commercially successful, led by well-run organisations with the experience and track record to deliver, as well as an extensive legacy which delivers for generations to come, both in the Olympic Park and at Crystal Palace.

Football in an athletics stadium does not workKeeping the running track in the Olympic Stadium, as West Ham are planning, will mean a terrible viewing experience and atmosphere for football spectators.

Fans will be up to 45 metres behind the goal line; this is more than twice the distance at Wembley (18m), more than three times that of Emirates (13m) and more than five times THFC's proposal for the Olympic Stadium (8m).

Perimeter advertising boards will block lower tier spectator sightlines - many in the lower tier will be unable to see the touch line, and even players' knees at times.

Using the Olympic Stadium as a football venue with an athletics track goes against all design trends for football stadia across the world No Premier League Club has ever played in a stadium with an athletics track.

Major clubs are increasingly moving from stadiums with athletics to football only, includingBayern Munich moved from Olympic Stadium to Allianz Arena - 2005.Espanyol moved from Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companis to Estadi Cornella El-Prat - 2009.Stuttgart currently converting Gotlieb Daimler Stadion to Mercedes Benz Arena - 2011.Juventus will move to its new football specific stadium in summer 2011.

Economic viabilityTHFC has a huge fan base that will fill the Olympic Stadium week in, week out. THFC sells out every game. More than 35,000 people are on the THFC paid-for season ticket waiting list.

A stadium that does not work for football and is the wrong size for athletics will see diminishing spectator numbers and not be sustainable in the long-term.

THFC offers a sustainable athletics legacyTHFC would modernise and rejuvenate Crystal Palace into a 25,000 seat stadium for athletics - which can then be expanded to 40,000 to host a World Championship.

Accessible to athletics 365 days a year [unlike the Olympic Stadium which will only be used for athletics a few weeks a year in the Premiership off-season].

THFC will also invest in grassroots athletics.

In summaryA commercially sustainable, successful and iconic Stadium at the heart of the Olympic Park.

Re-use of existing infrastructure to maximise the benefit of the public investment to date.

The ability to fill 60,000 seats underpinning commercial viability.

A world class destination delivering over 3,000,000 visitors a year.

A thriving non-match day offer.

A major tourist attraction based around extreme sports and experiences.

Dedicated programme of community focussed events and activities run by the Tottenham Hotspur Foundation

A scheme which delivers a significant economic boost and would trigger schemes in Crystal Palace and on the existing stadium site in Haringey.

Importantly, delivers a vibrant, lasting athletics legacy.

Cash question

Tottenham Hotspur cost adviser Paul Mitchell, who is executive director of Arcadis UK - a leading cost and project management consultancy - has made the following comments in relation to the costs of the Olympic Stadium and the club's plans.

He said: "It is nonsense to say that a £500 million pound investment is being wasted if Tottenham is successful in its bid for the Olympic Stadium site.

"Tottenham Hotspur's proposal follows the Bid Commitment to reduce the stadium down to podium level after the Olympic Games. This is the reason why the upper terrace and partial roof was built to a temporary specification.

"Tottenham Hotspur will retain and re-use all of the public investment in ground preparation, foundations, infrastructure roads, services, under-croft accommodation, podium, river walls, landscaping seating and floodlights. This represents the majority of the public investment. These elements were designed to be retained and that is exactly what we intend to do.

"The temporary structure which we estimate to be about 20 per cent [around £100 million] of the total cost will be dismantled and will be re-used, partly within our proposed new stadium and partly at Crystal Palace. This is a sustainable solution in which every single temporary facilities will be re-used or recycled. We also guarantee that no materials will go to landfill. And crucially, our proposal results in two fantastic sports legacies, not one."